Last year, 43 percent of employed Americans spent some time working from home, and studies show that the practice has done some good: Work-from-home warriors are more productive and generally report that they’re happier at work.
But, of course, there are some downsides. When your work is at home, it can often feel like it’s impossible to escape, and the lines between work life and home life become increasingly blurred. You may also feel like you have to work twice as hard as you did when you worked in an office, since you may not be as engaged or involved as those at work. The important part of transitioning from commuter to remote worker is to prioritize balance. Here are some good ways to set the wheels in motion.
1. Create a Designated Workspace
One of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure that you stay focused on your work — and don’t let it bleed into other facets of your life, especially your time to relax — is to keep it in a certain area of the house. Whether it’s a workspace in the corner of your apartment or a full-blown home office, creating a “work zone” will help you easily transition between free time and work hours.
Pick a spot where there are few distractions — not next to the TV! — and make it comfortable yet work-friendly, with office window treatments and a supportive desk chair. With that being said, one of the biggest benefits of remote work is that it can be done from everywhere, so don’t be afraid to take the occasional work-from-front-porch day.
2. Set Designated Work Hours
Just as you have a dedicated physical space to work in, you need to mark off dedicated mental space. While there are some obvious exceptions to the rule, like late-night installs or last-minute deadlines, you should have a specific cut-off time every day. As counterintuitive as it might seem to your career, working within specific time parameters is better for your mental health and will prevent burnout. In fact, some of the most successful people don’t check their e-mail until they get into the office. And it seems obvious, but make sure that your weekends are weekends, and keep them work-free as much as possible.
3. Let the Light In
Did you know that there’s a whole field of psychology dedicated to figuring out how to make workers happier, more engaged and more productive in the workplace? It’s called industrial and organizational psychology, and a big part of it focuses on the physical office environment, especially lighting. Studies show that when an employee has more control over the lighting, they get more done. Installing a dimmer for example allows you to customize the light in the room as you see fit for max productivity and comfort.
4. Press the ‘Pause’ Button
If you find that you can’t not have your work e-mail or project management app on your smartphone, know that there are some great ways to turn these things off when you want a break. For example, if you want to be able to check your work e-mail from your smartphone during your set work hours but don’t want to feel burdened to reply after 5 or 6 p.m., consider installing an e-mail pause application, like Boomerang. You can — and should — use these kinds of tools when you’re on vacation or away from the office so that you can connect when needed and disconnect when it’s time to step away.
5. Keep It Neat and Clean
One oft-overlooked downside of telecommuting is that you don’t get the built-in convenience of a nightly office clean. That often means that when you get particularly busy, paperwork and messes might pile up on your workspace. And many workers find it hard to focus if a space is disorganized or if something needs to be cleaned. To combat this, build in 15 or 20 minutes once a week to freshen up your workspace. Put away any accumulated papers, wipe down any surfaces and clean your computer screens.
6. Make Your Office an Office
Did we mention that the design and feel of your workspace is really, really important? It’s easy to feel disorganized or unfocused when you’re working in your pajamas on a laptop from bed. On the other hand, working from an office-like environment with a desk and a proper chair will help you avoid getting too comfortable and taking your work into your chill zone. Add extras like a coffee pot, a landline phone and maybe even a mini fridge to create a self-contained space that feels like a traditional office. This will help improve productivity by keeping everything you need nearby and also prevent you from working all over the house.
7. Say ‘No’ to Lunch Dates
If you’re new to telecommuting, you’ll notice that the people in your life may mistake your work hours as free time to pop in, plan lunch or ask for favors. While everybody needs to get away from work for lunch on occasion, make sure that it’s clear to those around you that your work time is just that — time to work. You also have to make sure that you’re following the same rules for yourself. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you should be squeezing in laundry or appointments with the handyman. As much as possible, leave those tasks for after work.
8. Take Breaks
Hyper-focused remote workers may find it difficult to work in a busy office, where there are tons of distractions and opportunities for breaks. But here’s the thing: Stepping away from your work for a few minutes every couple of hours isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can help you avoid becoming burned out and can reinvigorate your interest in the work. If you tend to log in, zone out and chug away for several-hour blocks, try to build in a few breaks throughout your day to avoid mental exhaustion.
